PermaSolarPotterMar 13

Yay, one of our new mulberry trees is putting on fruit for the first time. A year ago, I was tooting incessantly about planting #perennials bc I was struggling in the veggie garden. Now, the veggie gardening is back on track AND we have more self-sufficient perennials growing. I haven’t done a single thing to this plant since putting it into the ground.

The second mulberry tree in front of the house (different variety) is just beginning to put on new leaves. #gardening #zone10

PermaSolarPotterMar 8
The cycle begins again. These are the first cotton flower blossoms since the fall. I’ve taken a break from my #spinning hobby as other things have taken over my interest lately. I’m excited to return to it whenever the time is right. In the meantime, the plants I started last year are ready to produce again and I’m starting new seedlings as well. #gardening #NativePlants #zone10
PermaSolarPotterMar 8
Thanks to advice from you helpful folks on this app, I learned that my woodchip-heavy #compost would make good mulch for my fruit trees. I started with the mango, adding some organic fertilizer to the base, topping with compost and fallen leaves from the tree. There are plenty of prolific established mango trees in our neighborhood that produce with no help. Ours is young and last year a lot of the fruit fell before it ripened. Let’s see what happens this year. #gardening #TropicalFruit #zone10
PermaSolarPotterMar 5
I love these giant mustard leaves! But of course I can’t remember what variety they are because I threw away the empty seed packet and didn’t take notes of any kind. I want to say “broadleaf” was in the name. #TypeBGardener #gardening #Zone10
PermaSolarPotterMar 3
Big old carpenter bee loving on our pigeon pea blossoms. I don’t remember seeing them in our yard before. We always have European honeybees and sometimes American bumbles. These guys are so big, I was able to spot a pair of them from my bedroom window. #pollinators #gardening #Zone10
PermaSolarPotterMar 1
I’m really savoring these days when we can still have our brassicas. Kale and collards are some of my favorite foods. I’m already doing some planning for my summer garden, which is the toughest time to grow in my region. It’s really sad because it’s so hot and would be the perfect time to eat watery lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers but those things just become infested around here after May. #gardening #Zone10
PermaSolarPotterFeb 7

Our plantain tree is alive but very unhappy about the temperature over the last week. I don’t think it got below freezing around here. It would touch down to maybe about 34°F before sunrise and then the sun would come out and warm things up again.

I’m really not one to stress about these things. You won’t find me running around in the cold trying to cover trees with blankets. Kale, collards & mustards are unphased. Tomatoes didn’t seem to mind too much, either. #Florida #gardening #zone10

PermaSolarPotterJan 12
We’re about to pass through another cold snap here. It will be in the 60s during the day and will drop into the 40s at night, with an expected low of 37°F on Friday night. This is very good for controlling the mosquito population. And this may be the last time it gets this cold before the spring, so we really need it. #zone10 #Florida #weather
PermaSolarPotterJan 12
Pigeon peas, plantains & papaya
#zone10 #EdibleLandscape #Florida #gardening
Show threadPermaSolarPotterDec 29
Another thing I’m very happy about is the way I sought the path of least resistance by turning toward tropical perennial food plants such as pigeon peas. We’ve been growing them for years, but I expanded the variety of perennials in our garden when I noticed how much easier they are to grow than tender annuals. Now, we’ve got a whole lot of both and it feels great. #gardening #zone10